Low power battery mode for wireless-enabled device prior to commissioning

ABSTRACT

The wireless lighting control device examples conserve battery power before installation and/or commissioning. To save battery life, such a device remains in a low power mode and is awakened for commissioning, for example, by a button press (e.g. for a wall switch) or motion or audio sensing (e.g. for an occupancy sensor or the like). When awakened, the lighting control device enters its commissioning mode with the radio transceiver active for a short period of time. If the lighting control device is not commissioned within that time interval, for example, it may reenter the sleep mode. Conversely, if successfully commissioned during the active time period, the lighting control device is ready for normal operations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/215,038, filed on Jul. 20, 2016, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates to a battery powered controldevice, for example, for wirelessly controlling a luminaire or the like.More specifically, the control device conserves battery power byentering and/or remaining in a low power mode before a wake-up operationactivates the device to allow for commissioning.

BACKGROUND

Recently, battery powered devices (e.g. switches, sensors, etc.) havebeen developed to control luminaires, for example, using wirelesscommunications with the controlled devices. In order to conserve batterylife between manufacturing of the control device and installation of thecontrol device, conventional solutions have physically disconnected thebattery from the electronics of the control device, typically, in one oftwo configurations.

In a first configuration, a non-conductive pull-tab is inserted (duringmanufacturing) between the batteries and one or more of the powerterminals of the device itself. In order to install these types ofcontrol devices and enable normal operation, the installer has tophysically pull the tab out for the device to become powered for thefirst time.

In a second configuration, batteries are simply not included in thedevice during the manufacturing process. In order to install these typesof control devices, the installer has to physically insert batteriesinto the device for the device to become powered for the first time.

SUMMARY

There is room for improvement over the typical configurations outlinedabove.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by productionor operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the presentsubject matter may be realized and attained by means of themethodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 is a high-level functional block diagram of a system of one ormore communication networks between luminaires, battery powered lightingcontrol devices, and other network enabled devices for use in orcommunication with a lighting control system.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart/state diagram that may be helpful in explainingoperation of a battery powered wireless lighting control device, such asa wall switch or a standalone sensor, in a system like that in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the internal components of an example ofa luminaire as may be used in the system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the internal components of an example ofa battery powered wall switch.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the internal components of a batterypowered sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that the present teachings may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components,and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, withoutdetail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the presentteachings.

The various examples disclosed herein relate to battery powered lightingcontrol devices, such as a wireless wall switch or a wireless sensor(e.g. for occupancy sensing). The examples conserve battery power andextend battery life by entering or remaining in a very low power modebefore commission. While in that mode, a lighting control device exampleis awakened only by detection of a predetermined stimulus, such as abutton press for a wall switch or detection of some motion by anoccupancy sensor.

The first prior configuration outlined in the background, using thenon-conductive pull tab to conserve battery power before installation,is potentially error prone because it allows the tab to be prematurelypulled out therefore wasting precious battery life. If there is aproblem pulling out the tab, e.g. due to tearing, the tab pull may leavea non-conductive remnant between contacts and thereby prevent batteryconnection after the pull. This type error may prevent activation of thecontrol device, which in turn causes difficulties/added expense if thecontrol device fails to operate at or following installation. Thenon-conductive pull tab configuration also is expensive as the cost tomake and install the tab adds to the overall cost of the control device.

The prior technique relying on battery insertion at installation toconserving battery power is labor intensive due to the installer havingto manually install batteries in every device during installation.Errors may also arise if the installer does not insert the batteries inthe correct orientation or damages one or more of the connectionterminals of the control device during the battery installation process.

Also, the typical techniques disconnect the battery only until the timeof installation at a premises where the control device will operate.Once installed, the electronics may consume power. The lighting systemas a whole, with active ability of a wall switch or sensor to controlother devices (e.g. luminaires), may not be operational for some furtherperiod, for example, until luminaires are installed and the luminairesand the control device are commissioned to communicate and worktogether. In such a scenario, the control device electronics haveunnecessarily consumed power during the time between installation andcommissioning.

Examples are discussed below that improve on techniques to conservebattery power of a wireless lighting control device, for example, beforeinstallation and/or before commissioning, in a manner to alleviate oneor more of the deficiencies outlined above. To save battery life, awireless battery operated control device remains in a low power mode andis awakened for commissioning, for example by a button press (e.g. for awall switch) or motion or audio sensing (e.g. for an occupancy sensor orthe like). When awakened, the control device enters its commissioningmode with the radio transceiver active, e.g. for a short period of time.If the lighting control device is not commissioned within that timeinterval, it may reenter the sleep mode. Conversely, if successfullycommissioned during the active time period, the lighting control deviceis ready for normal operations.

With the temporary activation, based on a button press or conditionsensing, batteries can be installed and fully connected duringmanufacture. There is no need to install batteries in the control deviceat the installation site and no battery tabs to remember to pull or topull without damaging before installation and operation. The buttonpress or condition sensing approach may also allow an installer tostimulate the lighting control device and see some pilot light activityto confirm that the control device is functional, yet the lightingcontrol device can reenter its sleep mode and conserve power untilsomeone else commissions the device, possibly at a much later time.

As outlined above, the lighting control device with the battery powerconservation feature may be used to control operation of luminaires.Luminaires (e.g. light fixtures, floor or table lamps, or other types oflighting devices for artificial illumination) are widely used in variousresidential, commercial and industrial settings for providingillumination in both interior and exterior spaces. For example, a retailstore may install multiple luminaires in the ceiling for illuminatingproducts and walking area throughout store. The luminaires discussed inthe examples may be installed or otherwise located in our about aparticular premises. Although the premises may be a single property andassociated building structure, the term premises is used in the examplesto also encompass installations and/or operations of the luminaires atmore than a single site or building, such as campus.

The term “luminaire” as used herein is intended to encompass essentiallyany type of device that processes power to generate light, for example,for illumination of a space intended for use of or occupancy orobservation, typically by a living organism that can take advantage ofor be affected in some desired manner by the light emitted from thedevice. However, a luminaire may provide light for use by automatedequipment, such as sensors/monitors, robots, etc. that may occupy orobserve the illuminated space, instead of or in addition light for anorganism. A luminaire, for example, may take the form of a table lamp,ceiling light fixture or other lighting device that incorporates asource, where the source by itself contains no intelligence orcommunication capability (e.g. LEDs or the like, or lamp (“regular lightbulbs”) of any suitable type). Alternatively, a lighting device orluminaire may be relatively dumb but include a source device (e.g. a“light bulb”) that incorporates the intelligence and communicationcapabilities described herein. In most examples, the luminaire(s)illuminate a service area to a level useful for a human in or passingthrough the space, e.g. regular illumination of a room or corridor in abuilding or of an outdoor space such as a street, sidewalk, parking lotor performance premises served by a lighting system may have otherlighting purposes, such as signage for an entrance or to indicate anexit. Of course, the luminaires may be configured for still otherpurposes, e.g. to benefit human or non-human organisms or to repel oreven impair certain organisms or individuals.

The lighting control devices implementing the battery conservationfeature examples as described herein may be battery powered wirelesswall switches, battery powered wireless occupancy sensors, batterypowered wireless sensors configured to detect other lighting relatedconditions (e.g. ambient light characteristics) or other types ofcontrol devices configured to wirelessly communicate with lightingsystem elements about events or the like as may impact control of systemluminaires. As outlined above, each luminaire includes a light source.The light source may be any type of light emitting unit, including butnot limited to light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent or fluorescentlamps, halogen or halide lamps, neon tubes, etc. In the examplesdescribed herein, the luminaires also have smart capabilities. Forexample, the luminaires include a processor as well as radio frequency(RF) transceivers to perform wireless communications with otherluminaires and other wireless devices (e.g. Wall Switches, Sensors,Smartphones, Access Points, etc.). To work with and control suchluminaires in a controlled lighting system, a wall switch or sensor typelighting control device typically includes a compatible RF transceiver.The lighting control device may also include a processor, memory andfirmware or other programming to configure the lighting control deviceto operate as outlined herein.

The term “coupled” as used herein refers to any logical, physical orelectrical connection, link or the like by which signals produced by onesystem element are imparted to another “coupled” element. Unlessdescribed otherwise, coupled elements or devices are not necessarilydirectly connected to one another and may be separated by intermediatecomponents, elements or communication media that may modify, manipulateor carry the signals.

Reference now is made in detail to the examples illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and discussed below. To appreciate thepre-commissioning battery saver feature, in context, it may be helpfulto first consider an example of a lighting control system using wirelesscommunications, in which some of the wireless enabled lighting controldevices use battery power. FIG. 1 illustrates examples of some elementsof a wirelessly controlled lighting system 1 as well as examples of someother network enabled devices for use in or for communication with thelighting control system 1.

The lighting system 1 example of FIG. 1 includes one or more luminaires10A to 10N installed in a premises location (e.g. residential/commercialsetting). In this example, each of the luminaires 10 includes a lightsource as well as a lighting control device, where the lighting controldevice is represented by a sensor and control module in the examples ofluminaires 10A and 10N or by a control module (without its own sensor)in the example of luminaire 10B. The lighting control device for aluminaire may be incorporated within the respective luminaire as shown,or such a device may be implemented separately and coupled to controlthe respective luminaire. Although shown as one such controldevice/module for each luminaire, any one of these lighting controldevices/modules may be coupled to two or more luminaires (e.g. if thecontrol device is implemented as a power pack or plug load controller).Such lighting control devices in or associated with luminaire 10 areconfigured to communicate with each other and/or with other lightingcontrol devices represented in the drawing by wall switch 20 andstandalone sensor 21.

The concepts discussed herein are applicable to devices of a lightingsystem 1 that utilizes a single communication channel or band, forexample, in which the lighting control devices have transceiversconfigured to operate over a single channel or band. The concepts,however, are applicable to systems and devices that utilize a largernumber of channels, possibly in two or more RF bands. Hence, in theexample of FIG. 1, luminaires 10, wall switch 20, sensor 21 and anyother lighting control devices (such as plug load controllers and powerpacks) communicate control related messages over a control band forminga logical wireless control network 5. In specific examples discussed inmore detail later, the wireless control network 5 uses a 900 MHz(sub-GHz) frequency band. In such a multi-band example, the system alsouses one or more different channels or bands to form a logical wirelesscommissioning network 7. In specific examples discussed in more detaillater, the wireless commissioning network 7 uses a 2.4 GHz, such as theband assigned for BlueTooth Low Energy (BLE). In such an implementation,a variety of control messages are transmitted over the band of thewireless control network 5, including, for example, messages to turnlights on/off and possibly to dim lights up/down, set scene (e.g., apredetermined light setting), and to indicate sensor trip events. Theother band, used for the commissioning network 7 in the example, carriesvarious messages related to commissioning and maintenance of thewireless lighting system 1; however no control messages pass over thiscommissioning network. Logically, the communications over the controlband and the commissioning band may be thought of/referred to as awireless control network 5 and a wireless commissioning network 7.

When the system 1 is fully operational, each lighting control device 10,20, 21 wirelessly sends and/or receives lighting control relatedmessages over the wireless control network 5. Before such normaloperations, however, each lighting control device 10, 20, 21 iscommissioned to operate as an element of the system 1 via communicationsover the wireless commissioning network 7. In the example shown, thesystem 1 is provisioned with a mobile device 25 that includes acommissioning/maintenance application 22 for commissioning andmaintenance functions of the lighting control system 1. For example, themobile device 25 enables mobile commissioning, configuration, andmaintenance functions. The mobile device 25 may be a tablet, PDA orsmartphone type of device with human interfacing mechanisms sufficientto perform clear and uncluttered user directed operations. The mobiledevice 25 runs mobile type applications, including thecommissioning/maintenance application 22 on iOS7, Android KitKat,Windows 10 operating system or the like. Execution of thecommissioning/maintenance application 22 on the mobile device 25supports commissioning of devices for operation as elements of thelighting system 1.

In addition to luminaires 10A to 10N, wall switch 20 and sensor 21, agateway 50 may also be in communication with wireless control network 15and/or the commissioning network 7. If provided, such a gateway 50allows a luminaire, any standalone sensors and wall switch(es) tocommunicate with external devices such as server 65 and personalcomputer or other user terminal device 60 via a wide area network (WAN)55. This configuration could essentially allow a server 65 or terminaldevice 60 to commission, monitor and/or control the luminaires,sensor(s) and wall switch(es) 106 at the premises.

Web enabled (cloud) services for facilitating commissioning andmaintenance activities also may be provided via the mobile device 25.The commissioning/maintenance application 22 of the mobile commissioningdevice 25 interfaces with the cloud services via the gateway 50 and theWAN 55 to acquire installation and configuration information for uploadto luminaires 10, wall switches 20, sensors 21, etc. The installationand configuration information is received by mobile device 25 from thegateway 55.

After the installer (e.g. electrician) initially installs luminaires 10,sensor 21 and wall switch 20, the luminaires 10 are powered from the ACmains at the premises. Battery powered control devices such as thesensor 21 and the wall switch 20, however, remain for long periods inthe deep sleep mode awaiting activation for commissioning. The same or adifferent technician initiates a pairing and commissioning process toconfigure the system to support wireless communications for normallighting control, e.g. between the lighting control devices 20, 21 andthe luminaires 10. The pairing and commissioning process, for example,may involve an individual Bluetooth pairing of a mobile device 25 (e.g.a tablet or smartphone) with each system element 10, 20, 21 to enablecommunications related to commissioning. For battery powered wirelesslighting control devices, such as the sensor 21 and the wall switch 20,this involves input of a predetermined stimulus to wake each such devicefrom its deep sleep mode for pairing with the mobile commissioningdevice 25 in the example.

At a high level, the commissioning of the elements 10, 20, 21 duringrespective paired communications essentially enables the technician toconfigure each of the various elements so as to create a relationshipbetween the battery powered wireless lighting control devices 20, 21 andthe luminaires 10 that allows for wireless control of the luminaires 10after successful commissioning. For example, once the commissioningprocess is properly complete, sensor 21 or wall switch 20 will be ableto control (e.g. turn ON/OFF) some number N luminaires 10 (10A-10N inthe drawing) automatically, by sensing occupancy or by detecting a userrequest via button operation.

In a more specific example, for a system encompassing a number of roomsor other areas of a premises, groups of system elements are formedduring commissioning of the lighting control system. All members of agroup are logically connected together over the control band of thewireless control network, which in our example is a sub-GHz controlnetwork. A group may be defined by an assigned RF channel and a lightingcontrol group identifier. In such an implementation, the luminaires andcontrol devices of the group subscribe to group communication “channels”defined by assigned RF channel and assigned group ID. Effectively, thesystem elements in the group only listen for/react to messages on the RFchannel with the identifier (ID) of the subscribed group channel thatdesignate the lighting control group of which each control device in aluminaire 10 or other wireless lighting control device 20 or 21 is amember. A group can be further divided to address control to specificcontrol zones within the group defined by a control zone identifier.Zone communications are managed as addressable features at run time.

Each lighting control group will have a group monitor or manger.Typically, one of the luminaires is commissioned as the group monitor,and one or more of the other luminaires are commissioned to take overthe group monitor functions in the event of failure of a designatedgroup monitor. The configuration of luminaires as group monitor andbackup(s) is part of the process for commissioning the luminaires 10A to10N in the group.

Due to limited available full-power operation times due to battery powerlimitations, lighting control devices such as wall switch 20 and sensor21, are not commissioned to act as the group monitor in the example. Thelighting control devices 20, 21, however, are commissioned tocommunicate with the active group monitor as well as other luminaires inthe particular group. Further discussions will concentrate on controldevice wake-up and commissioning, e.g. for such group controloperations.

The wireless control network 5 distributes control messages and events,network management messages and events, health and failover events; andthe commissioning network 7 distributes messages about commissioning andmaintenance communications, such as firmware update distributions andgroup membership changes. Of note for purposes of further discussion ofinstallation and commissioning, the commissioning process configures thegroup members to listen to/use the RF channel and ID of the group,configures luminaires as the group manager and possible backup(s) andconfigures other group members to communicate with the group monitor.Since the luminaires draw power from AC mains, the transceivers andcontrol electronics can be adequately powered at all times before,during and after commissioning. Battery powered devices, however,operate in one or more low power modes at different times to conservebattery power. In particular, battery powered wireless lighting controldevices, such as sensor 21 and wall switch 20, frequently operate in orremain in a deep sleep mode (minimal power consumption state) untilawakened for commissioning.

For example, if the battery powered wireless lighting control device isa wall switch 20 that includes a button, a user press of the buttongenerates the trigger signal that stimulates the processor to wake upthe wall switch 20 from the deep sleep mode. Once commissioned, theprocessor responds to user activation of the button to control theluminaire(s) 10 in the assigned group to turn ON/OFF. If the controldevice is an occupancy sensor 21, the device includes an appropriatedetector, which in this example, is configured to detect motion. In thatcase, the processor of device is configured to wake up the occupancysensor from the deep sleep mode upon suitable motion detection, and oncecommissioned, to control the luminaire(s) 10 in the assigned group toturn ON based on further detected motion. Luminaires may turn OFF ifthere is no indication of occupancy from such a sensor for some setperiod of time.

In the examples, the battery powered wireless lighting control devicemay be configured for surface mounting on or recessed mounting in a wallor other architectural panel of a premises to be illuminated by thelighting system. A wall switch 20 often is mounted to a wall, forconvenient user access. An occupancy sensor 21 or the like may besimilarly wall mounted but often is mounted on a ceiling or the like.

Batteries may be installed and fully connected to the electronics of thelighting control device 20 or 21 as part of the manufacturing process.The processor is configured to keep the device in the deep sleep modefrom manufacturing of the battery powered wireless lighting controldevice, for example, until activated in expectation of commissioning.

The processor may transition the device 20 or 21 back to the deep sleepmode, for example, in the event a wake-up fails to result in asuccessful commissioning of the device. In a more specific example, theprocessor transitions the device 20 or 21 back to the deep sleep mode ata predetermined time interval after wake-up in event of no commissioningof the device before expiration of the predetermined time interval.

In operation examples, upon awakening from the deep sleep mode, theprocessor and the RF transceiver consume battery power necessary tocomplete the commissioning of the device. Upon successful commissioningof the device, however, the device including the processor and the RFtransceiver, enters a normal lighting control mode awaiting a lightingrelated input via the detector or the button. In the example, thelighting control device enters its normal operating state for wirelesslighting control functions once commissioned; although in that normaloperation mode, the device uses various power states to perform thenecessary actions yet preserve battery life. One power state withinnormal operations will be a full ON mode in which all elements/functionsof the lighting control device are powered and actively available. Oneother state that may be entered at various times of normal (postcommissioned) operations may be a somewhat low power state awaiting abutton press or condition sensing, in response to which the device willpower up the appropriate transceiver for control signal transmissions.The normal operation low power state, however, may or may not be as lowin power consumption as the deep sleep mode before commissioning.

It may be helpful to consider the states and process of such a lightingcontrol device in somewhat more detail, with reference to the diagram ofFIG. 2.

In step 100, the wall switch 20 and/or sensor 21 is initially operatingin a deep sleep mode, for example, consuming current less than or equalto 5 micro-amperes. In some examples, the battery powered lightingcontrol device may consume less than 1 micro-amps of current. This deepsleep mode is set during manufacturing of the switch and/or sensor. Inorder to be awoken from this deep sleep mode, a stimulus must be inputto the respective device. The wall switch 20, for example, therefore mayonly consume power if any needed only to detect activation of the pushbutton. The sensor, for example, may only consume sufficient power tooperate a timer to infrequently wake up enough of the device functionsto operate the detector to sense for motion detection in the vicinity ofthe lighting control device. Stimulus for wake-up, for example, mayinvolve detection of a button press, detection of an audio condition orpattern, detection of motion, detection of a specific motion profile(e.g. gesture or the like).

By way of somewhat more detailed examples, a button on a wall switch 20must be pressed or pressed and held for a predetermined time period; ora sensor 21 must detect some type of motion in its vicinity to be awokenfrom deep sleep. This type of stimulus will wake the wall switch 20 orthe sensor 21 respectively from the deep sleep mode such that therespective device can transmit an active beacon in step 102 (i.e. theprocessor of the lighting control device applies power to the BlueToothRF transceiver of the lighting control device). This active beacon is awireless transmission of an advertising packet or the like to indicateto other Bluetooth enabled devices in the vicinity that the wall switch20 or sensor 21 is attempting to essentially connect (i.e., pair itself)with another device. Although referred to in the singular as a beacon,it should be understood that the advertising packet or other signaltransmission for this purpose may be transmitted a number of times (e.g.around 5 to 10 times per second) for some period while the transceiveris in the mode looking for a device with which to pair, forcommissioning purposes at this point in our example. Luminaires andother wall switches 20 and/or sensor 21 will not respond to the pairingrequest/advertisement, however, a Bluetooth enabled mobile device 25 ofa technician seeking to commission the wall switch 20 and/or sensor 21may respond.

The wall switch 20 or the sensor 21 (after transmitting the activebeacon) determines in step 104 if it has been paired with acommissioning device 25. If it is paired successfully, then processor ofthe lighting control device 20 or 21 completes a commissioning processin step 106 by exchanging information (identity information, etc.) withthe commissioning device 25. Although not shown in the flow diagram forthe control device states in FIG. 2, each luminaire will go through itsown pairing and commissioning procedure. After the commissioning processtakes place for all elements of the particular zone or group, the wallswitch 20 and/or the sensor 21 is now configured to control theluminaires 10A to 10N in the group.

Once commissioned, the wall switch 20 and/or the sensor 21 enters anormal sleep mode in step 108 and awaits an input stimulus before itawakes and performs its normal lighting control functions in step 110.For example, after the commissioning process, the wall switch 20 maywake up due to one of the buttons being pressed in order to turn ON/OFFor other operations (e.g. dimming, scene selection, programming, etc.)of the luminaires 10A to 10N of the particular group. Similarly, thesensor 21, upon detecting motion via the infrared detector or the like,may transmit a control signal to turn ON/OFF luminaires 10A to 10N ofthe particular group. It should also be noted that each commissionedbattery powered lighting control device 20 or 21 may wake upperiodically, for example, to check for changes such as firmware updatesor other messages held for the control device by the group monitor. Thenormal sleep mode may consume somewhat more power than the deep sleepmode implemented prior to commissioning, particularly when consideredover an interval of time that may involve more frequent wake-ups forcheck-in, in comparison to the deep sleep mode before commissioning.

To fully appreciate the present concepts, it may be useful to discussexamples of the luminaires, wall switches and sensors in somewhat moredetail.

An example of a luminaire 10B is shown in FIG. 3 where the luminaire 10Bincludes a light source 210, a micro-controller unit (MCU) 204 that hasan internal processor configured as a central processing unit (CPU) 214,a memory 216 and a non-volatile memory 218. The processor and associatedmemory in the example 10B of the luminaire are components of the MCU,which is a microchip device that incorporates the CPU as well as one ormore memories. The MCU may be thought of as a small computer or computerlike device formed on a single chip. Alternatively, the processor andmemory may be implemented as separate components, e.g. by amicroprocessor, ROM, RAM, flash memory, etc.

Also included in the example 10B of the luminaire is a powerdistribution unit 202 receiving power from an external alternatingcurrent (AC) power source 212. A driver for the light source may beprovided, e.g. to convert mains power to suitable voltage and currentlevels for the particular type of source, although the driver is omittedfrom FIG. 3 for convenience.

This example of the luminaire 10B includes the capabilities tocommunicate over two different radio frequency (RF) bands, although theconcepts discussed herein are applicable to control devices thatcommunicate with luminaires and other system elements via a single RFband. Hence, in the example, the luminaire 10B includes a 900 MHztransceiver 206 for sending/receiving control signals, as well as a 2.4GHz transceiver 208 (e.g. BlueTooth Low Energy (BLE)) forsending/receiving pairing and commissioning messages. In such animplementation a variety of controls are transmitted over the 900 MHzcontrol band of the wireless control network 5, including, for example,turn lights on/off, dim up/down, set scene (e.g., a predetermined lightsetting), and sensor trip events. The other band, 2.4 GHz for BLE in theexample, carries various messages related to commissioning andmaintenance of the wireless lighting system, however no controls passover this commissioning network 7.

Although the two RF transceivers and the MCU are shown separately, theelements of the luminaire may be implemented in a more integratedmanner, e.g. with the RF transceivers integrated into the MCU 204, withone RF transceiver for multiple bands, with the MCU implemented as anintegral component of one or the other of the RF transceivers, etc.

In the example of FIG. 3, luminaire 10B is shown as having one processor214, for convenience. In some instances, such a lighting device may havemultiple processors. For example, a particular device configuration mayutilize a multi-core processor architecture. Also, some of the othercomponents, such as the communications interfaces, may themselvesinclude processors.

The lighting control device or module of the luminaire 10B includes theMCU 204 (with the processor and memory) as well as the wirelesstransceiver(s). If the module also operated as a sensor, such a lightingcontrol device would also include a detector and associated circuitry tooperate the particular detector and interface the detector to the MCU204.

In general, the MCU 204 of the lighting control device in the luminaire10B controls the various components of the luminaire. For example, MCU204 controls RF transceivers 206 and 208 to communicate with other RFdevices (e.g. wall switches, sensors, commissioning device, etc.). Inaddition, the MCU 204 controls the light source 210 to turn ON/OFFautomatically, or at the request of a user. In addition, MCU 204controls other aspects of operation of the light source 210, such aslight output intensity level, associated color characteristic(s) of thelight output, focus and/or beam steering of the light output, etc.

In order to perform the pairing and commissioning process andcommunicate with the luminaires 10A to 10N, examples of the wall switch20 and sensor 21 for operation in the system 1 example of FIG. 1 alsohave wireless transmission/reception capabilities as well as a processor(e.g. in an MCU) or other control electronics. For example, as shown inthe example of FIG. 4, a wall switch 20 includes a power distributionunit 312, MCU 204, and wireless transceivers 206 and 208, which are allsomewhat similar to the various components shown in the luminaire ofFIG. 3.

In addition, however, wall switch 20 includes an internal battery 302that powers the electronics of the wall switch 20. Battery 302 isgenerally installed in wall switch 20 during manufacturing. Battery 302may be any type of battery including an alkaline battery, nickel cadmiumbattery, lithium ion battery, etc. In addition to battery 302, wallswitch 20 may also include at least one button 304 (e.g. push button,rocker switch, etc.) that allows a user to interact with the wallswitch. Responses to actuation of the button 304 are supported bydrive/sense circuitry 306 which interfaces button 304 to the MCU 204.

Optionally, the wall switch 20 may also include light emitting diodes(LEDs) 310 as well as LED driver circuitry 308 to support the LEDs.These LEDs may be used as pilot lights to allow wall switch 20 to outputvisual indicators to the user of the wall switch 20. For example, in alighting control operational mode, a LED may be activated for a shorttime in response to a button press by a user. Before commissioning,activation of a LED in response to a button press shows an installer orother technician that the wall switch has power, is operational and/oris ready for commissioning.

Sensor 21 shown in block diagram in FIG. 5 may be an occupancy sensorusing a motion detector, that includes at least one of an infrared (IR)detector, an ultrasonic detector, or a microwave detector, an imagedetector, or the like. Although the system 1 may use similar sensorimplementations for detection of other control responsive functions,e.g. detection of ambient light intensity or color characteristics, forpurposes of further discussion of an example of the sensor 21, thedescription concentrates on a sensor 21 configured to detect motion.

The internal components of the sensor example are shown in FIG. 5 wheresensor 21 includes several components similar to those of the wallswitch 20. The similar components include a power distribution unit 312,MCU 204, wireless transceivers 206 and 208, internal battery 302, andpossibly LEDs 310 and LED driver circuitry 308. However, sensor 21 alsoincludes sensor circuitry 402 and an associated detector 403. Thephysical condition detector in the example is a device to generate asignal in response to detection of a particular stimulus condition, suchas an Infrared or visible light sensitive photodiode for motiondetection or the like. The sensor circuitry 402 includes electronics tooperate and/or respond to output of the detector to provide appropriateinformation to the higher level logic, in this example of the MCU 204.As discussed above, in a motion sensor implementation, the detector 403may include a particular type of motion sensor (IR photodiode or otherIR detector, visible light photodiode or other visible light photocell,imager, etc.). The sensor circuitry 402 in turn provides any drivesignals under control of the MCU 204 and formats any outputs from theparticular motion detector for input to the MCU 204.

Similar to wall switch 20, battery 302 is installed in the sensor 21during the manufacturing of the sensor.

Physical installation of the wall switch 20 and/or sensor 21 isperformed by an installer (e.g., an electrician, a lay person, etc.) ina residential and/or commercial application. For example, assuming aluminaire 10 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a particular area of acommercial store, the installer (store employee) may install at leastone wall switch 20 and/or at least one sensor 21 in that particulararea. The installation process could be performed by mounting the wallswitch 20 and sensor 21 either directly to the wall (i.e., surfacemount), or recessing wall switch 20 and/or sensor 21 into the wall orceiling or the like (i.e., recessed mount). Since wall switch 20 andsensor 21 do not require external AC power (i.e. they are batterypowered), a lay person could easily and safely perform the installationby screwing the physical wall switch 20 and/or sensor 21 to the wall (orany surface for that matter) using screws, bolts, adhesive backing, etc.In the example shown in FIG. 1, wall switch 20 may be mounted to thewall at a standard height of a conventional wall switch, and sensor 21may be mounted on the wall at a height closer to the ceiling of the roomor in the ceiling itself such that any movement in the particular areacan be detected by sensor 21.

One benefit of this battery power conservation approach, overconventional techniques, is that each sensor 21 or wall switch 20 (uponmanufacturing), already includes an internal battery which does notrequire a pull tab in order to ensure the battery life is not wasted. Inorder to ensure the life of battery 302, the wall switch 20 or thesensor 21 includes a power distribution unit 312 and/or appropriateprogramming of the MCU 204 that ensures that only minimal battery poweris utilized when the device is not in use, and especially prior to thecommissioning process (i.e. the time between manufacturing andinstallation and/or commissioning).

Essentially, the wall switch 20 and sensor 21 (upon being manufactured)are automatically entered into a “deep sleep” mode. This deep sleep modeprovides minimal power (e.g., less than 5 micro-amps) to MCU 204 whichessentially allows the MCU to determine if a button 304 has been pushedon the wall switch 20 or determine if motion has been detected by sensorcircuitry 402. It should be noted, that during this deep sleep mode,power is not supplied to the RF transceivers, LEDs or any othernon-essential electronics.

An example of the commissioning and control process of wall switch 20will now be described in detail. Upon manufacturing, wall switch 20initially operates in the deep sleep mode, thus consuming minimal power.Upon installation in a particular setting, wall switch 20 does notcommunicate with any other device, because it is still in the deep sleepmode. However, after receiving a stimulus (i.e., when a user pushesbutton 304), drive sense circuitry 306 of the wall switch sends atrigger signal to MCU 204. MCU 204 then sends a control signal to powerdistribution unit 312 in order to awake the device 20 from the deepsleep mode. This allows more power from battery 302 to be supplied notonly to MCU 204 but also to other electronics within the wall switchsuch as the RF transceivers 206, 208 and any LEDs 310.

Upon awaking from the deep sleep mode, MCU 204 controls RF transceiver208 to transmit an active beacon. Assuming use of BlueTooth forcommissioning, the MCU 204 powers the BlueTooth transceiver, which sendsan initial packet one or more times with a unique key. This beacontransmission may include the identity of the wall switch and effectivelyis a request to pair for another wireless device such as a commissioningdevice 25 to pair with the wall switch. Assuming a commissioning device25 is in the vicinity of wall switch 20 at wake-up, the device 25responds to the beacon signal; and an exchange of messages ensues inaccordance with the BlueTooth protocol for pairing.

When the wall switch 20 is successfully paired with commissioning device25, a commissioning process takes place. The commissioning processincludes the exchange of other information between the devices. Uponsuccessful commissioning, the wall switch 20 is now configured tocontrol a luminaire 10. The commissioning process may be implemented ina variety of procedures using a variety of protocols, once the wallswitch 20 is paired with the commissioning device 25. At a high level,the lighting control device 20 or 21 provides information about thedevice to the commissioning device 25, which the commissioning device 25includes in a control group table that device 21 is e.g building for thegroup that will include the lighting control device 20 or 21. Thecommissioning device 25 provides to the lighting control device 20 or 21any provisioning or configuration information that the device 20 or 21may need to operate on the wireless control network as a control deviceof the particular group, such as the assigned RF channel and theidentifier (ID) of the subscribed group channel that designates thelighting control group to which the lighting control device 20 or 21will belong when the system is fully commissioned and operational.

Thus, wall switch 20 will enter a normal operations mode aftercommissioning. Unless activated for luminaire control, the wall switch20 initial entry into the normal operations mode often will involveentry into a hibernate state appropriate for normal lighting relatedoperations in which the wall switch waits for further stimulus from theuser. Different sleep or hibernate states/modes will have variousperipherals of the integrated process powered off at various lower powerlevels for the device. In hibernate, memory is refreshed, timers arerunning, and one or more pin inputs to the circuitry are active, forexample, allowing the wall switch 20 to wake up on a button pressdetection. Other elements are powered down. The deep sleep mode usedbefore commissioning may be the same mode or a similar mode withsomewhat more or a somewhat less of the device operational. For example,the deep sleep mode may have the same components active as in thehibernate mode and/or have additional higher frequency oscillatorsavailable, as compared to the hibernate mode.

The stimulus from the user may be the user pressing the ON or OFF buttonon wall switch 20 in order to turn ON or OFF luminaire 10. Assuming theuser pushes the ON button on wall switch 20, MCU 204 of wall switch 20then instructs RF transceiver 206 to transmit a control signal toluminaire 10 and/or the luminaire designated as the group monitor. Thiscontrol signal instructs luminaire 10 to turn ON light source 210. Whenthe user wants to turn OFF luminaire 10, the user simply presses the OFFbutton on wall switch 20, at which point wall switch 20 instruct RFtransceiver 206 to transmit another control signal to luminaire 10and/or the luminaire designated as the group monitor instructingluminaire 10 to turn OFF light source 210. After performing thesecontrol functions, the wall switch 20 will reenter the normal sleep modeand await further stimulus from the user.

An example of commissioning sensor 21 and then controlling luminaire 10will now be described in detail. As already described, when sensor 21 ismanufactured it enters a deep sleep mode thus conserving battery powerfrom battery 302. However, upon installation and receiving stimulus, MCU204 of sensor 21 instructs power distribution unit 312 to supply thebattery power 302 to other electronics such as RF transceivers 206, 208and LEDs 310.

The stimulus of sensing in device 21 is somewhat different than by thewall switch 20, because sensor 21 may not have any buttons to press. Thestimulus to sensor 21 may simply be that detector 403 sensor circuitry402 sense motion in the vicinity of sensor 21 or a combination of motionalong with some other stimulus. For example, if the device has multiplesensors, for example audio and motion sensors, a predetermined audiosignal (e.g. tone, song, chirps, etc.) would be capable of waking up thedevice alone or in combination with detected motion. In a multiplesensor configuration, for example, the processor may be configured toawake the device from the deep sleep mode in response to a combinationof the trigger signal from the sensor and a predetermined signal fromthe other sensor, or responsive to detection of either one or both ofthe predetermined audio signal or motion.

Thus, in the deep sleep mode, minimal power is provided to sensorcircuitry 402 in order to detect motion. This motion that serves as thepredetermined stimulus to wake up the device 21 for possiblecommissioning may be configured to be any motion, a specific pattern ofmotion (e.g. a particular movement about a room or a particular gesture,and/or motion for a specific amount of time), in order for the sensorcircuitry 402 to send a trigger signal to MCU 204 which triggers thesensor 21 to awake from the deep sleep mode and begin beaconing.

Once sensor device 21 awakes from the deep sleep mode due to thetrigger, MCU 204 controls BlueTooth transceiver 208 to transmit anactive beacon. This active beacon is then received a commissioningdevice 25 and the two become paired. The sensor 21 and commissioningdevice 25 then perform the commissioning process where they exchangeinformation between one another. After the commissioning process iscompleted successfully, sensor 21 is configured to control a luminaire10.

During operation (after commissioning), sensor 21 may detect motion of auser within its vicinity. Once detector 403 and sensor circuitry 402detect this motion, the circuitry 402 sends a trigger signal to MCU 204which triggers MCU 204 to control RF transceiver 206 to send anappropriate control signal to luminaire 10 and/or the luminairedesignated as the group monitor. The control signal sent to luminaire 10may instruct luminaire 10 to turn ON light source 210 due to motionbeing detected in the vicinity (i.e., a person is in the room). After acertain amount of time, when detector 403 and sensor circuitry 402 donot detect any other motion in the vicinity, MCU 204 of sensor 21 maymake a determination that the user has left the room. If thisdetermination is made, MCU 204 instructs the RF transceiver 206 to sendanother control signal to luminaire 10 and/or the luminaire designatedas the group monitor instructing luminaire 10 to turn OFF light source210. At this point, the MCU 204 of sensor 21 enters the normal sleepmode and awaits further stimulus.

By manufacturing wall switch 20 and sensor 21 with an internal battery,an installer does not need to insert a battery into each of thesedevices upon installation. This minimizes installation time/cost andprevents users from stealing the batteries. In addition, by placing thesensor 21 and the wall switch 20 in the deep sleep mode uponmanufacturing, an additional physical pull tab is not necessary. Thisreduces errors during installation as well as reduces manufacturingcosts. Essentially, sensor 21 and wall switch 20 stay in a deep sleepmode where they consume very minimal battery power until awoken from thedeep sleep mode by a stimulus. This stimulus is received through aninteraction with these devices (i.e., pushing buttons on the wallswitch, the sensor detecting motion in the room, etc.). This overallprocess ensures that the battery life of battery 302 and wall switch 20and sensor 21 is extended as long as possible.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” or any other variation thereof, are intended tocover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include onlythose elements but may include other elements not expressly listed orinherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An elementpreceded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, precludethe existence of additional identical elements in the process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings,positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable rangethat is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with whatis customary in the art to which they pertain.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the bestmode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may beimplemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be appliedin numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein.It is intended by the following claims to claim any and allmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of thepresent concepts.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighting control device, comprising: a battery;a processor; at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver for wirelesscommunications; and at least one of a detector or a button; wherein theprocessor is configured to operate the wireless lighting control deviceto: remain in a low power mode that consumes less power from the batterythan a normal operations mode until the processor receives a triggersignal from the detector or the button to initiate commissioning of thelighting control device; awaken from the low power mode to consumeadditional power from the battery when the trigger signal is received;and in response to awakening from the low power mode: transmit a packetto connect to a commissioning device over a commissioning network viathe at least one RF transceiver; and in response to transmitting thepacket to connect to the commissioning device over the commissioningnetwork, receive a commissioning message from the commissioning deviceto enable commissioning of the lighting control device to operate over awireless lighting control network.
 2. The lighting control device ofclaim 1, wherein: transmitting the packet to connect to thecommissioning device and receiving the commissioning message from thecommissioning device pairs the lighting control device with thecommissioning device over a commissioning network logically separatefrom the wireless lighting control network.
 3. The lighting controldevice of claim 2, wherein the transmitted packet to connect to thecommissioning device over the commissioning network is a wirelesstransmission of an advertising packet to pair with the commissioningdevice.
 4. The lighting control device of claim 3, wherein theadvertising packet to connect to the commissioning device is transmitteda predetermined number of times over a predetermined time period.
 5. Thelighting control device of claim 1, wherein: in response to receivingthe commissioning message, the lighting control device is commissionedby the commissioning device to wirelessly communicate with a luminaire,a sensor, or a switch over the wireless lighting control network throughthe at least one RF transceiver.
 6. The lighting control device of claim5, wherein in response to commissioning of the lighting control deviceby the commissioning device, the processor is further configured toprovide wireless control of the luminaire over the wireless lightingcontrol network through the at least one RF transceiver.
 7. The lightingcontrol device of claim 6, wherein the wireless control includes turningthe luminaire on/off, dimming the luminaire up/down, scene selection forthe luminaire, or a sensor trip event.
 8. The lighting control device ofclaim 1, wherein the lighting control device is configured as a sensoror a switch.
 9. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein: the atleast one RF transceiver includes: a first band radio transceiver forwireless communications over the wireless lighting control network; anda second band radio transceiver for wireless communications over acommissioning network, the second band being different from the firstband.
 10. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein the processoris further configured to transition the lighting control device back tothe low power mode after awakening in event of no commissioning beforeexpiration of a predetermined time interval.
 11. The lighting controldevice of claim 1, wherein: upon awakening from the low power mode, theprocessor and the at least one RF transceiver complete commissioning ofthe lighting control device; and upon completing commissioning of thelighting control device, the lighting control device including theprocessor and the at least one RF transceiver, enters the normaloperations mode awaiting a lighting related input via the detector orthe button.
 12. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein: thelighting control device includes a timer; and the processor isconfigured to operate the timer to wake up to operate the detector tosense for motion detection in a vicinity of the lighting control device.13. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein the low power modeconsumes less than or equal to 5 micro-amperes of electrical current.14. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein the low power modeconsumes less than or equal to 1 micro-ampere of electrical current. 15.The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein: the lighting controldevice is a wall switch that includes the button to allow a user togenerate the trigger signal to awaken the wall switch from the low powermode; and once commissioned, the button allows the user to controllighting operation of a luminaire over the wireless lighting controlnetwork.
 16. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein: theprocessor is configured to enter the lighting control device into anormal sleep mode after commissioning that consumes more power than thelow power mode but less power than the normal operations mode.
 17. Thelighting control device of claim 1, wherein: the lighting control deviceincludes the detector and the detector is configured to detect motion;the lighting control device is configured as an occupancy sensor; andthe processor is configured to: awaken the occupancy sensor from the lowpower mode upon motion detection; and upon commissioning of the lightingcontrol device by the commissioning device, control a luminaire over thewireless lighting control network based on the detected motion.
 18. Thelighting control device of claim 1, wherein: the processor is furtherconfigured to awaken the lighting control device from the low power modein response to a combination of trigger signals from multiple buttons ordetectors.
 19. A method comprising: maintaining a lighting controldevice in a low power mode that consumes less power from a battery thana normal operations mode until receiving a trigger signal to initiatecommissioning of the lighting control device; awakening the lightingcontrol device from the low power mode to consume additional power fromthe battery when the trigger signal is received; and in response toawakening the lighting control device from the low power mode:transmitting a packet to connect to a commissioning device over acommissioning network via at least one RF transceiver; and in responseto transmitting the packet to connect to the commissioning device overthe commissioning network, receiving a commissioning message from thecommissioning device via the at least one RF transceiver to enablecommissioning of the lighting control device to operate over a wirelesslighting control network.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereintransmitting the packet to connect to the commissioning device andreceiving the commissioning message from the commissioning device pairsthe lighting control device with the commissioning device over acommissioning network.